Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2023

Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2023

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Maryland offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in Maryland

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          Colleges and Universities in Maryland

          The Old Line State has 46 colleges and universities, 30 of which are public and 16 of which are private. The United States Naval Academy offers programs in physical sciences, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture. The largest private institution, Johns Hopkins University, has just over 24,000 students and a tuition rate of $54,000. Located in Baltimore, this research university is known for its science and medical discoveries.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          The University of Maryland in College Park boasts over 35,000 students with a price tag of $11,000. The school has 15 campuses, and students can choose from areas of study like criminal justice, communications, physics, and sociology. The most affordable school in the state, Baltimore City Community College comes in at $3,000 and has 37 associate degree programs to choose from. Maryland also provides loan forgiveness programs for its residents, including those for dentists and public servants. Students can also check out the Maryland SmartBuy Home Buyer Assistance and Forgiveness Program, where eligible applicants can receive up to 15% of the home purchase price toward outstanding student loan, to be paid off as part of closing.

          Maryland is a state bursting with history, from its numerous museums to its historic battlegrounds. Students who attend school in Maryland can explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Park and walk the same streets as many influential Marylanders, including Francis Scott Key, Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday, and Thurgood Marshall.

          Whether you’re looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Maryland offers its students history, legacy, and numerous degree paths.


          What are Maryland’s Colleges & Universities?

          Maryland’s Best Overall

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          We’ve identified 16 community colleges in Maryland. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Maryland.

          Best Community Colleges in Maryland

          1. #3

            Cecil College

            North East , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            19%

            Student body

            1K

            What is Cecil College known for?

            Cecil College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2. #4

            Garrett College

            McHenry , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $9K

            Graduation

            28%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Garrett College known for?

            Garrett College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          3. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            16%

            Student body

            10K

          4. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            13%

            Student body

            8K

            What is Prince George's Community College known for?

            Prince George's Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          5. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            31%

            Student body

            4K

            What is College of Southern Maryland known for?

            College of Southern Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          6. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            25%

            Student body

            6K

            What is Howard Community College known for?

            Howard Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          7. Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            1K

            What is Allegany College of Maryland known for?

            Allegany College of Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          8. Tuition + fees

            $3K

            Graduation

            11%

            Student body

            3K

          9. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Frederick Community College known for?

            Frederick Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          10. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            19%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Wor–Wic Community College known for?

            Wor–Wic Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          11. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Hagerstown Community College known for?

            Hagerstown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          12. #14

            Chesapeake College

            Wye Mills , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            1K

            What is Chesapeake College known for?

            Chesapeake College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          13. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Harford Community College known for?

            Harford Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          14. #16

            Carroll Community College

            Westminster , MD

            Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            41%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Carroll Community College known for?

            Carroll Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

          1. Montgomery College
          2. Baltimore City Community College
          3. Garrett College
          4. Hagerstown Community College
          5. College of Southern Maryland
          6. Chesapeake College
          7. Frederick Community College
          8. Carroll Community College
          9. Howard Community College
          10. Community College of Baltimore County
          11. Prince George's Community College
          12. Harford Community College
          13. Cecil College
          14. Wor–Wic Community College
          15. Allegany College of Maryland